How to say "What should I do?" in Chinese

怎么 (zěnme) means 'how' and 办 (bàn) means 'to handle' or 'to do'. Together, 怎么办 literally means 'how to handle it', but is used as a set phrase for 'What should I do?'

Use 怎么办 when you're in a bind and need a solution, like missing a train or losing your wallet. It's common in both casual and serious contexts. You can also say 我该怎么办 (wǒ gāi zěnme bàn) for 'What should I do?' with more emphasis on yourself.